Google College Essay Example
Google College Essay Example

Google College Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (565 words)
  • Published: October 15, 2016
  • Type: Essay
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Data centers consume a large amount of energy for their operation and maintenance, mainly due to the cooling and powering of computers. The EPA reported that in 2011, data centers in the United States used around 12 gigawatts of power, which is equivalent to what twenty-five large power plants generate. It is estimated that by 2020, carbon emissions from global computer servers will equal or exceed those generated by the airline industry.

Case study questions

The acronym PUE, short for Power Usage Effectiveness, signifies the ratio between the total facility energy and the energy consumed by IT Equipment. PUE is employed to deliver power and cooling to IT Equipment and it is crucial to measure your PUE in order to determine the extent of energy and cooling being utilized. Google advises regularly monitoring your PUE for accurate results an

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d recommends maintaining it at a minimum level. It is advisable to consistently check your PUE instead of doing so periodically, with an optimal value being approximately 1.0.

Google suggests five ways to decrease power usage. These approaches involve measuring PUE for efficient power and cooling of IT equipment, enhancing circulation in the data center by managing airflow, saving energy costs by adjusting the thermostat, utilizing free cooling with ambient temperature, and optimizing power distribution to save both energy and money.

Approximately one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions come from computing, with data centers comprising 15 percent and large internet data centers accounting for 5 percent. Both cloud computing and audio/video streaming contribute to greater power consumption. The primary concern lies in the use of power, as IT progress necessitates more

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resources to sustain it, even though streaming consumes less energy. In other words, while energy usage may decrease by 50 percent, the demand for resources increases by 70 percent to maintain power consumption. As long as energy usage from cloud computing and audio streaming remains unmeasured, power consumption will continue to rise alongside rapid technological advancements.

There are two methods to reduce power consumption: virtualization and air management. Virtualization divides a physical server into multiple virtual servers, reducing the need for physical hardware and ultimately decreasing power usage and operating costs. Air management is also crucial in lowering power consumption, particularly in data centers housing numerous servers. Cooling temperatures play a key role in this aspect. One recommendation for enhancing efficiency would be to establish data centers in countries with naturally low ambient temperatures, such as Iceland.

4. Developed countries are more suitable for data center power consumption due to their existing significant data centers. It is logical to place them where there is a demand, predominantly in North America and Europe. If the aim is to decrease data center power consumption, countries with cooler climates such as Iceland could be considered.

In an ideal world, if a firm shares its techniques, all other industries can become more efficient and decrease global emissions of greenhouse gases. However, in reality, companies are unlikely to sacrifice revenue for empathic efficiency. For example, Google, the leader in data center efficiency, freely shares its energy efficiency practices with other firms but keeps its virtual technology exclusive for competitive advantage. Governments and industry associations should implement regulations regarding carbon emissions for data center industries and other sectors. By making

companies aware of the importance of these regulations, it is hoped that emissions will be reduced. Additionally, competition among industries serves as an incentive for customers to help cut costs.

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